The son owes enough to do in his own parents, making it, let's assume, a fairly large sum and a debt he feels requires serious attention, possibly to save himself from a fate not less brutal than that of his dear mother and father at the hands of the person or persons who have bested or financed him at the poker table.

How interested would such people be in seeing this guy behind bars, where his earning potential would be severely limited?

Posted by Qwerty
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 16, 2008 at 7:04 pm

What is the official definition of "person of interest"? Is it merely someone who could have been involved but hasn't been cleared? Or is it more serious than that? I'm guessing the latter, but don't really know for certain.

Mike, you asked a really good question. I wonder what the experts would say about this. On one hand you would think that people wouldn't want him behind bars because as you said, his earning power would be limited. On the other hand, if they think the son won't pay up, they might be inclined to provide evidence that would put him behind bars for the rest of his life, or net him the death penalty.

If the son did do this what would he gain by it if there wasn't any money in the house for him to steal? If killing them wasn't going to net him instant cash, I don't see why it would be worth the risk to do what he did. If he was in the process of stealing money or arguing over it and they threatened him I could see why he might do something rash with his adrenaline going. However to do something brutal makes no sense to me unless he was on drugs or was extremely spiteful. If he did do it, he is really stupid or egotistical to think he could do something so sinister and get away with it.

Posted by Qwerty
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 16, 2008 at 7:12 pm

Referening my comments above, if someone wanted to do the son in, they could do so indirectly by providing evidence if they have it. Essentially put the guy away for life (at a minimum) without taking any risks themselves such as they would have if they would have one the job on their own.

Posted by Another Gatetree Resident
a resident of Amador Valley High School
on Jun 17, 2008 at 5:28 pm

"Person of interest" is a phrase often used by law enforcement when announcing the name of someone involved in a criminal investigation who has NOT YET been arrested or FORMALLY accused of a crime. It is often used as a euphemism for suspect.